Tragedy in Captivity: Former Kebbi APC Chairman Dies After Weeks in Bandits’ Den

A former chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Koko/Besse Local Government Area of Kebbi State, Alhaji Muhammadu Besse, has reportedly died while in captivity weeks after he was abducted by armed terrorists.

The development adds to growing concerns over the worsening security situation across Nigeria’s North-West, where kidnappings and bandit attacks continue to claim lives despite ongoing military operations.

News of Besse’s death emerged on Tuesday through a post on X by security analyst and conflict reporter Bakatsine, who has closely monitored insecurity in the region.

According to the report, the former APC chairman was among two victims seen in a viral video released by their captors from the notorious Birnin Gwari forest, where they appeared visibly distressed and were allegedly subjected to humiliation while pleading for help.

“DEVASTATING UPDATE: Alhaji Muhammadu Mai Barga Besse, the immediate former APC Chairman of Koko/Besse LGA in Kebbi State, has now also been confirmed dead in captivity,” Bakatsine wrote.

He added that both men featured in the video had now lost their lives without reuniting with their families.

“What began as disturbing footage of humiliation has ended in the worst possible tragedy. Two lives gone, two families shattered, and more painful questions about the security crisis facing communities across northern Nigeria.”

Besse was abducted earlier this month by suspected terrorists operating within the North-West region, an area that has become a hotspot for banditry, mass abductions and violent attacks on rural communities.

His death has sparked renewed outrage and grief among residents and political associates in Kebbi State, with many questioning the effectiveness of measures aimed at tackling insecurity in the region.

Fresh Abduction Hits APC Chairman’s Family

In a related development, suspected terrorists on Monday night stormed the residence of the APC Chairman in Yauri Local Government Area of Kebbi State, Alhaji Yusuf Alhassan, abducting his wife and son.

Sources in Yauri told journalists that the attackers invaded the chairman’s residence located in the Low-Cost area of the town before whisking the victims away to an unknown destination.

The incident has heightened fears among residents already grappling with recurring attacks by armed groups across parts of the state.

Confirming the abduction, spokesperson of the Kebbi State Police Command, SP Bashir Usman, said security operatives had been mobilised to track the kidnappers and secure the safe release of the victims.

“We have deployed personnel to the area and efforts are ongoing to rescue the abducted persons and apprehend the perpetrators,” the police spokesman said.

Attempts to reach Alhaji Alhassan for comments were unsuccessful as his telephone lines remained switched off.

Renewed Questions Over Security

The death of the former APC chairman and the fresh abduction of the family members of another party leader underscore the persistent security challenges confronting communities across Kebbi and neighbouring states.

Despite intensified military offensives and security operations in the North-West, armed groups continue to launch attacks, raid communities and carry out kidnappings for ransom, leaving many families devastated.

For residents of Kebbi State, the latest incidents serve as another painful reminder of the human cost of the region’s lingering insecurity and the urgent need for more effective measures to protect lives and communities.